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Advanced Modern Standard Arabic ARAB 3003-3503 (3 Credits / 45 hours) SIT Study Abroad Program: Morocco: Arabic Language and Community Service PLEASE NOTE: This syllabus represents a recent semester. Because courses develop and change over time to take advantage of unique learning opportunities, actual course content varies from semester to semester. Course Description This course is designed to further develop student proficiency and communication in Modern Standard Arabic. While emphasis is placed primarily upon oral comprehension and conversational skills (i.e. listening and speaking), reading and writing are highlighted as crucial to the reinforcement of those skills. Thus, the course is designed not only to help students improve and enhance Arabic, but also to grasp cultural practices in the Arab world. Cultural context is built into the course and introduced through audiovisual materials and experiential activities accompanying the textbook. While the previous levels focus on daily life through an emphasis on conversational and communicative approaches, Advanced Arabic addresses increasingly complex issues related to culture, literature, politics, society, sociological studies, media, and gender, among other topics. The structural and grammatical usages of Arabic are emphasized as necessary linguistic tools for the improvement of the learner’s proficiency and fluency. The overall intended learning objective is to enable students to critically analyze Arabic texts and discourses and express ideas in Arabic at an appropriate level. Advanced Arabic focuses on reading extracts of articles from journals, magazines, and newspapers, while incorporating music, advanced texts, and film/television. Written assignments aim to reinforce the stylistic and structural competences. Moroccan Arabic Immediately after arriving in Rabat and during the first week of orientation, students participate in a 3-hour introduction to Moroccan Colloquial Arabic, “darija,” that ranges from basic vocabulary and sentence structure to easy dialogues and interactive exercises as well as useful expressions. The objective of these sessions is to provide students with an elementary background and early familiarity with Moroccan Colloquial Arabic in preparation for the homestay experience. Language Levels and Placement Non-beginning participants are placed into appropriate language course levels based on oral proficiency interviews and written exams conducted during orientation in Morocco. Course Objectives Advanced Arabic has an interdisciplinary and experiential focus, encompassing 45 class hours (3 credits). Its main objectives are: • To gain advanced proficiency in spoken Arabic; Copyright © SIT, a program of World Learning 1 • To use the language confidently and effectively in everyday situations and in addressing a broadening range of specialized topics; • To explore a variety of media, its representations, and its attendant effects in Morocco; • To acquire insight into the role and specificities of Arabic within Moroccan life and culture. Learning Outcomes Upon completion of Advanced Arabic, students will be able: • To master the grammatical rules and structures as well as the linguistic functions of clauses and sentences; • To improve proficiency and mastery of the language skills for better academic pursuits in Arabic; • To develop various learning skills to meet the needs and expectations of students in order to address and analyze themes related to advanced levels; • To address the very advanced issues related to abstract topics of culture, literature, politics, society, sociological studies, gender, and more; • To be empowered with an ability and a sense of critical and analytical thinking through the use of different language functions. Course Requirements This course focuses exclusively on Modern Standard Arabic—Fusha and enables students to attain a level of proficiency in all Arabic skills. Students will refine and expand their knowledge of grammar and sentence structure. The course adopts a multi-level methodology that integrates the skills of reading, writing, listening, grammar, vocabulary, and conversation. There will be more emphasis on composition and oral discussions. All skills are reinforced at all levels and Arabic is the only teaching language used in class. The size of classes is also kept small. For an interactive and unique cultural immersion experience, each course includes: • Survival Moroccan Arabic (additional to the 45 contact hours) • Field exercises involving language practice in “souks,” cafes, restaurants, museums, etc. To strengthen the following skills, the class will emphasize: Conversation: • To develop communication skills • To talk about and analyze daily life issues related to the Arab world in general and Morocco in particular • To perform oral presentations on themes of interest • To present and discuss certain aspects of Moroccan and Arab culture with classmates using Arabic only Writing: • To master composition techniques • To summarize texts and express point of views while writing Reading: • To understand and master authentic texts on culture and literature • To read articles from Arabic newspapers and magazines • To gain insight into how some literary and philosophical issues are tackled in Arabic writings as an advanced introduction to culture and literature Listening: • To immerse effectively in Morocco’s society and Arab culture mainly through the assigned field exercises and audio-video materials selected by the instructors Copyright © SIT, a program of World Learning 2 Readings You are responsible for all the required readings and should be prepared to bring them for the Arabic classes. Required readings All students are required to bring the following Arabic textbooks with them to Morocco. These texts are not available in Morocco. Please make sure you have the latest versions of the following items. Students are required to bring a laptop for homework assignments and individual Arabic writing seminar projects. Brustad, K., A. Al-Tonsi, and M. Al-Batal. Al-Kitaab fii Ta’allum al-Arabiyya with DVD and MP3 CD: A Textbook for Arabic, Part Three. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press. 2007. ISBN: 978-1589011496. Other Pedagogical Supports Articles from newspapers, magazines, authentic texts/audio, and video and internet resources. *Please be aware that course contents, lecturers, and readings may be modified as needed. Should any changes of class topics or lecturers be necessary, students will be promptly notified. Overview of Course Syllabus* * Please note that the following course topics are to be divided based on the two proficiency levels of Advanced (Low, Mid, and High). A detailed schedule of each will be given to you after your placement tests and prior to the beginning of your Arabic classes. Content Topics: • Islam and politics • Current events in Morocco • Moroccan and Arab mass media • Classical and popular patrimony • Youth culture in Morocco • The Arabs and the West • Poetry in the Arab world • Progress and development in Arab societies • NGOs in Arab societies • Religion and society • Literature and Arts • Aspect of Arab identities • Feminine perspectives • Notion of nostalgia in the Arab world Grammar Topics: وﺣﻧﻟاو دﻋاوﻘﻟا ﺔﻌﺟارﻣ • بارﻋﻹا • ﮫﯾﻟإ رﺎﺷﻣﻟا دﻌﺑ ةرﺎﺷﻹا ءﺎﻣﺳأ • صﻗﺎﻧﻟاو فﻌﺿﻣﻟاو فوﺟﻷا لﻌﻔﻟا • لوﮭﺟﻣﻠﻟ ﻲﻧﺑﻣﻟا لﻌﻔﻟا • ﺎﻣﮭﺗاوﺧأو دﺎﻛو نﺎﻛ • صﻗﺎﻧﻟا لﻌﻔﻠﻟ لوﻌﻔﻣﻟا مﺳاو لﻋﺎﻔﻟا مﺳا جارﺧﺗﺳا • (ءﺎﻧﺛﺗﺳﻻا ةادأ ،ﮫﻧﻣ ﻰﻧﺛﺗﺳﻣﻟا ،ﻰﻧﺛﺗﺳﻣﻟا) ءﺎﻧﺛﺗﺳﻻا • ﺔﺳﻣﺧﻟا ءﺎﻣﺳﻷاو "وذ" • ﺔﯾرﻌﺷﻟا نازوﻷاو ضورﻌﻟا مﻠﻋ • رﻛذﻣﻟاو ثﻧؤﻣﻟا نازوأ • Copyright © SIT, a program of World Learning 3 طرﺷﻟا • لﺎﺣﻟا • Evaluation and Grading Criteria Description of Assignments: Attendance/Participation: Class attendance is mandatory and absences are penalized by reducing the language grade, except for illness cases, when the student is expected to provide a medical certificate. In addition, two repetitive and unjustified delays are also counted as an absence and may impact the student’s participation grade. The aim of class participation is to: 1) Express your views; 2) Ask questions; 3) Make suggestions; 4) Read the assigned lessons ahead of class time to familiarize yourself with the specific vocabulary and content of the course and thus be able to follow class discussions and rehearse your vocabulary. Homework: Reinforcement exercises are assigned daily, with students expected to complete an average of 2 hours of homework every day. Exercises will consist of written and oral assignments and may include finding new vocabulary items and expressions and listening and watching TV programs with the aim of developing and rehearsing strategies of picking up and understanding sounds. Participants are supposed to submit the exercises within the indicated deadlines; otherwise the exercise is not accepted, which will affect the course grade. Part of the learner’s tasks is also to read the grammar section of the Al-Kitaab textbook, presented in English, outside class time to avoid using the foreign language in class. Quizzes: Quizzes are scheduled at the end of each week of the Arabic program to prepare the students for both the written and the oral exams. They aim at keeping up with the previously covered issues related to different skills: grammar, vocabulary, expressions, conversations, listening, reading, and writing. Written Examination: The course includes final assessment that last one hour and a half. Each week, about 20 minutes are devoted to reviewing the vocabulary and grammar covered. Oral Presentations: An oral presentation is scheduled during the program: Students are given the choice of subjects with total awareness to use only Arabic, utilizing vocabulary and linguistic skills acquired in their language class. The time of this presentation ranges around 10 to 20 minutes maximum. The students can have the option to present individually or in a group where they are free to join students from other levels. Oral presentations are moments of celebration as students perform and engage in creative activities. Students will be graded not only on the vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure level, but also at the pronunciation and proficiency level. Assessment: Grades are assigned by the language instructors based on the following evaluation criteria: Attendance/ participation 25% Homework 25% Quizzes 20% Written Examination 15% Oral Presentation 15% Grading Scale: Copyright © SIT, a program of World Learning 4
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